Brick-machine.



- L. M. PRATT.

BRICK MACHINE.

APPLICATION IILED'APR. 10, 1903.

949,043, Patented. Feb.15,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. M. PRATT.

BRICK MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR.10,190&

Patented Feb. 15,1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ll I STAEL ATE LEWIS 1V1. PRATT, OF ALBUQUERQUE, TERRITORY OF NEWMEXICO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO OTTO MANN, OF ALBUQUERQUE, TERRITORY OFNEW MEXICO.

BRICK-MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Lnwrs M. PRATT, a citizen of the United States,residing at Albuquerque, in the county of Bernalillo and Territory ofNew Mexico, have invented a new and useful Brick-Machine, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to brick machines, and more especially to thattype of machine used in the manufacture of cement brick.

One object of the invention resides in an improved machine of thecharacter described in which an improved mechanism will be used for thecompression of the brick.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine of the characterdescribed with a hopper having an actuating bar actuated by simplemechanism.

The invention consists of certain novel arrangements and combinations ofparts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, andspecifically set forth in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, like characters of reference refer to likeparts throughout the several views, and Figure 1 is a longitudinalmedian section of the device. Fig. 2 is a detail of the hopper in theposition in which it is placed when the bricks are being compressed.Fig. 3 is a similar view of the hopper when in position to permit thebricks to be raised. Fig. 1 is a transverse sectional view showing theknuckle joint employed for compression with the lever connected thereto.Fig. 5 is a detail perspective of the upper part of the machine, showingthe hopper and its agitator bar.

In the form of machine here shown, there is mounted upon a floor 10 aframe 11. Attached to the'frame 11 is a platen 12 provided with a pairof openings 13. While it is obvious that, in the form of deviceillustrated, it is preferable to employ a pair of such openings, it is eually obvious that one or more may be emp oyed, as desired, and that theopenings may be of any shape desired. Below the platen 12 is carried amold box 14:, and plungers 15 are arranged to reciprocate in said moldbox.

Pivotally supported on the platen 12 is an auxiliary frame 16. A pair oflinks 17 provided with a slot 18 at the upper end thereof, are connectedto the plungers 15, as

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 10, 1908.

Patented Feb. 15, 1910.

Serial No. 426,373.

scribed forms a double joint whereby parallel motion is given to theplungers. A second lever 23 is also pivotally mounted upon the auxiliaryframe, as shown at 24, and the end of the lever is connected with theplunger 15 by means of a suitable link 25.

From an inspection of Fig. 4, it will be apparent that when the lever 21is actuated,

a forward upward movement is given to the plunger 15, but the same willbe accom plished by a very considerable movement of the end of thelever, and thus a powerful upward pressure will be developed. It willalso be noticed, in the same figure, that when the lever 23 isdepressed, the plunger 15 will be raised a considerable distance, thisbeing permitted by the slot and pin connection at the upper end of thelink 17.

Slidably mounted upon the platen 12 is a hopper 26 having upon one sidethereof an extended face 27. The width of the face 27 is such as toentirely cover the opening 13 when the same is positioned over them.Attached to the hopper 26 are a pair of rack bars 28.

Mounted upon the frame 11 is a shaft 29 which carries a pair ofinterrupted gears 30. But one of these gears is here illustrated, but itis obvious that there must be a gear for each of the rack bars 28. Theinterrupted portions of these gears are indicated by the numeral 31.Upon the shaft 29 is also mounted an operating handle 32, the same beingpivotally attached thereto for the purpose of rotating the shaft 29.

Mounted in the hopper 26 is an agitator bar 33 provided with a series ofagitating fingers 34 arranged thereon. The bar 33 extends through oneend of the hopper 26, as shown in Fig. 5, and a lever 35 is rigidlyattached to that end. A. fork 36 is mounted on the auxiliary frame 16and receives the end of the lever 35.

Upon one end of the platen 12 is mounted a pair of fingers 37, andbeneath the platen is a spring 38. The fingers 37 and the spring 38 forma means whereby a pallet 39 of any desired size or thickness may be heldadjacent the end of the platen 12.

For the purpose of describing the o eration of the device, a finishedbrick Wlll be numbered 40 and the plastic mass 41.

In the operation of the device, the hopper is first positioned, as shownin full lines in Fig. 1. lVhen in this position, it is filled with anysuitable plastic material, as indicated at 41. Itwill be observed froman inspection of this figure that it will be impossible, by reason ofthe interrupted portion 31 of the gear 30, to move the hopper 26 beyondthe point indicated by the full lines. At this stage of the operation,the levers 21 and 23 are in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 4.The operating handle 32 is now turned to cause the hopper 26 to assumethe position indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1. The plastic mass, or aportion thereof sutficient to fill the mold box will then be depositedin the mold box. The continuous movement of the handle 32 will thencause the hopper 26 to assume the position shown in Fig. 2. hen thehopper is in this position, it will be observed that the portion 27covers the openings in the platen 12. The lever 21 actuating the saidknuckle joint is then depressed to the position shown in dotted lines inFlg. 4. Thls causes the plunger 15 to assume the position shown indotted lines in that figure, and the plastic mass contained in the moldbox will be compressed to form the bricks 40 shown in Fig. 2. Theoperating handle 32 is then again turned, and the hopper is brought tothe position shown in Fig. 3. Thelever 23 is now depressed, and thebricks 40 raised to the position shown in that figure, thus theoperating handle 32 is now reversed, and V the bricks 40 pushed forwardupon the pallet, as indicated in Fig. 1. The levers 21 and 23 are nowraised to the position shown in.

full lines in Fig. 4, and the machine is again ready to begin theoperation just described.

It is desired to point out that in the peculiar arrangement of rack andgear that is embodied in this invention, the operating handle is alwaysto be found by the operator in the same place. The operator is enabledto stand still while operating the device, this not being a machinewhere the rack on the platen and the gear is supported on the hopper. Afurther advantage of this arrangement is that at no time will the gearand rack operate to force the hopper away from the laten, as indicatedwhen the gear is earned on the hopper.

I claim In a device of the class described, a mold box, a hopper mountedto reciprocate above said mold box, an agitator shaft journaled in thehopper, a lever connected with the shaft, and a bracket including spacedfingers between which the end of the lever is confined whereby the shaftwill be oscillated upon reciprocation of said hopper.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto afiixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS M. PRATT.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM BRYCE, CHAS. C. DAVIS.

